Vol. 576 No. 5
303 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will set aside his objection to the existing preferred route for the M9 motorway at Ballyreddin, Bennettsbridge, County Kilkenny, in the interest of the common good; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29794/03]
The valuable mineral estate in the vicinity of route options for the proposed road is State owned and it is the Department's duty to realise the value of that estate to its maximum value for the common good. Any sterilisation of minerals will result in a real loss of future income to the Exchequer and the loss should be reflected in the true cost of the road. As had been said on a number of occasions, my Department is fully prepared to engage in discussions with Kilkenny County Council on the issue of the level of any such compensation.
